Beta Progress

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The beta program for Xbox Live is just around the corner. Here's where things stand.

By IGN

Potential beta testers for Xbox Live may have already begun receiving their Starter Kits. The strongest sign yet that Xbox Live is proceeding according to plan.The thousands of potential testers who weren't selected for the program need not fret however. We have official word from Microsoft about the progress of the Xbox Live beta program.

There were a number of criteria, including surveys, that we used to choose the beta testers. Our goal was to find real, hardcore Xbox gamers who would be willing to help us out with the beta of Xbox Live by giving us feedback.

The response was overwhelming. We had more than 110,000 people sign up for the beta test, something that bodes well for Xbox Live. Gamers are pumped for this service.

We plan to add thousands of gamers over the coming weeks and months, as we scale the beta to its fully functional size. Just because you didn¿t make round one, doesn't mean you can¿t get chosen for a later round, although we obviously can¿t include everyone.

Even if gamers don't get into the beta, they¿ll still be able to play Xbox Live games when we launch in NA on Nov. 15. It's only a few short months away.

Those who have been chosen for the beta should have taken the initial steps to get online by now (setting up your Xbox with your high-speed Internet access, for example). Those who have placed an order for an Xbox Live Beta Starter Kit will be receiving it in the next few days (many already have received it) and can get online as soon as they receive the kit. Many other beta testers will get an invitation to join (which includes a link to order the Starter Kit) soon.

Right now, NFL Fever 2003, Sega Sports NFL 2K3 and Re-Volt, a racing game. We haven¿t announced any other titles, but we may add others later.